WE ARE HIRING :)

We are looking for an incredible Sales, Marketing & Operations Assistant ….

To join OH MY GUM! and support us in giving chewing a much-needed makeover. The role will be based in our office in central London (close to Bond Street and Marble Arch station).

The role will be responsible for:

• Overseeing orders from customers, ensuring delivery is timely and any potential issues are flagged

• Invoicing, chasing payments and bookkeeping

• Sales and marketing administration

• Office management duties: managing couriers, office supplies, etc.

• Supporting on ad-hoc projects that require administrative support

We would love to hear from you if you tick the following boxes :

• You are super efficient and organised

• You can wear multiple hats as the role will be versatile

• You have a positive can-do attitude as we are all about the positive vibes

• You get things done

• You are proactive

• You are an amazing problem solver

• You have previous experience in an office environment (not necessarily as an Office Manager)

Email malak@ohmygum.com to apply for the role with your CV and your nomination for our next flavour x

OH MY GIRL! - Charlotte Manahan

Charlotte Manahan - @teethbylottie

If you are looking for a brilliant dental hygienist and therapist in London, look no further than Charlotte Manahan - @teethbylottie - based on Harley Street (38 Devonshire Street). I went to visit Lottie at the end of last year and can hand on heart say that the experience and results were amazing. As Lottie is passionate about sustainable dentistry and has so kindly recommended OH MY GUM! in her talks , I wanted to catch up with her and ask her our OH MY GUM! blog questions - thank you Lottie !

One of Lottie’s bag essentials : OH MY GUM! in all natural fresh mint.

1. What are your handbag essentials?

   Always have my Aesop hand gel, OH MY GUM! mint and hair bobbles (always have too many). I am quite a clean freak so my bags are always minimal.

2. What is your favourite holiday destination?

   I spend a lot of time in Switzerland with my partner. We love the great outdoors hikes in the summer and ski in the winter.

3. What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

   I look to cook - it is my therapy. Love having a quiet dinner party with good friends and good wine.

4. What is your dream three course meal?

   I am such a small plate / veggie lover. Ottolenghi dishes are right up there.

5. What easy sustainable swaps do you recommend?

   Get rid of single use plastic! Cling film should be banned and replaced with reusable containers and wax covers - there is no excuse. I also love my Keep Cup! I don’t allow myself to get a takeout coffee unless I have it with me.

6. Do you prefer OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon flavour?

   OH MY GUM! in mint - I have always been a minty fan.

7. What should be our next flavour?

   I would love a delicious cherry.

8. What are your top eco-friendly tips for looking after our teeth/smile?

   I am super passionate about sustainability and dentistry. After tonnes of research, I have come to the conclusion that a greener planet is when we prevent disease using effective brushes, Oral B electric brushes, in my opinion, do this excellently. Every time you get a tooth filled with plastic, you are signing your carbon footprint up to a lifetime of dental visits. What you do in the bathroom to care for your teeth is the most valuable.

Look after your teeth by chewing on sugar-free plastic-free chewing gum sweetened with 100% xylitol.

Is chewing gum good for you?

OH MY GUM! in all natural mint and cinnamon.

Chewing gum is a millennia-old practice. More specifically, people were chewing plant-based chewing gum thousands of years ago : the Ancient Greeks chewed on tree sap called mastic and the Mayans and Aztecs chewed on tree sap from the sapodilla tree called chicle (this is what we use in OH MY GUM! - natural biodegradable chicle gum base ;) ). It is also surprising to most people that there are mental and physical health benefits to chewing gum so we thought it would be interesting to write a post highlighting how chewing gum can be good for you:

Chewing on sugar-free 100% sweetened xylitol chewing gum is good for your teeth

1. Chewing gum keeps your teeth healthy

   Chewing sugar-free gum is good for your teeth as it increases the production of saliva in your mouth. This is in turn washes away harmful sugars and food debris on your teeth, protecting your teeth from cavities and freshening your breath.

   When it comes to choosing your sugar-free chewing gum, it is best to pick chewing gum that is sweetened with 100% plant-based tooth-friendly xylitol (dentist-approved sweetener from the birch tree) as it has been found to be more effective than other sweeteners at preventing tooth decay. This is why award-winning London-based dentist, Dr. Rhona Iskander, is a fan of 100& xylitol-sweetened chewing gum (her favourite is OH MY GUM! in award-winning cinnamon).
   

2. Chewing gum helps to eliminate nausea

   The increased saliva production from chewing gum helps to alleviate nausea which is why some people recommend chewing gum if you have motion sickness. The best chewing gum flavours for fighting feelings of nausea are mint and ginger (always best to make sure they are natural flavours and no synthetic ones).
   

3. Chewing gum improves memory

   Studies have supported the claim that chewing gum helps to improve your memory. One paper found that short-term memory was improved by 35%! Although the exact reason for this is not 100% clear, the hypothesis is that chewing gum boosts blood flow to your brain.

4. Chewing gum helps with acid reflux and heartburn

   As chewing gum generates saliva flow, this has been found to ease the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn.

5. Chewing gum helps to reduce stress.

   A review of twenty studies showed that the act of chewing gum reduced stress levels for participants in work and educational settings.

   There are some other reported benefits too. We have some very loyal customers who have told us that chewing our cinnamon chewing gum has helped them stop smoking. We all know how chewing gum helps with popping your ears on an airplane too and there are quite a few reports on how chewing gum helps with increased alertness and concentration. The most recent news on the benefits of chewing gum is of a cinnamon flavoured chewing gum laced with plant protein that reduces the transmission of COVID-19 by over 70%. Imagine that!

Another benefit: OH MY GUM! is the only chewing gum that you can buy as a gift

You can get the benefits of chewing gum by picking OH MY GUM! because:

• OH MY GUM! is sweetened with 100% dentist-approved plant-based xylitol and is free of sugar and other sweeteners like aspartame. It is therefore good for your teeth.

• OH MY GUM! is made with tree sap called chicle which is what chewing gum is originally made of. This is softer than the plastic used in mainstream chewing gum so it is not as strenuous on your jaw.

• You can get all the benefits listed above - guilt-free - as you are picking a more sustainable plant-based alternative to plastic-filled regular gum that accounts for the second biggest source of plastic pollution on our streets. OH MY GUM! is biodegradable - that is why OH MY GUM! is this year’s proud winner of the Sustainable Food Awards.

Shop here to make the stylish, sustainable and super tasty switch.

FAQs

I have had an amazing September where I got the chance to meet so many wonderful customers at Speciality & Fine Food Fair and the London Coffee Festival. It was so great to meet everyone and spread the word about OH MY GUM! and how we are trying the change the chewing gum industry for good. Awareness around regular chewing gum being made with plastic is still so low and everyone was so shocked when I would break it to them so we have a long way to go before this information is widespread.

It was also very interesting to see what questions people kept coming up. I have been so immersed in my plant-based and plastic-free chewing gum bubble that I forget to shout out about some obvious facts like OH MY GUM! being sugar-free for instance. So I thought I would write up a blog post and answer the ten most frequently asked questions about OH MY GUM!. Voila! ….

THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION WAS SURPRISINGLY: IS OH MY GUM! SUGAR-FREE?

THE ANSWER IS YES! OH MY GUM! IS SUGAR-FREE AND SO MUCH MORE - .IT IS ALSO PLANT-BASED, PLASTIC-FREE, BIODEGRADABLE AND SO CHIC!

1. Can you swallow plant-based chewing gum? Does it stay in your stomach like regular chewing gum?

You can swallow plant-based plastic-free chewing gum and regular plastic chewing gum too although this is not recommended. Your digestive system will get rid of chewing gum in a matter of 3-7 days just like it would with anything else. So it is a myth that chewing gum will stay in your stomach for 7 years.

2. Does OH MY GUM! dissolve in your mouth?

No. When we say OH MY GUM! is biodegradable, it does not mean it will dissolve in your mouth. It is designed to be chewed just like you would chew normal chewing gum. The term biodegradable refers to what happens after you dispose of OH MY GUM!.

3. Is OH MY GUM! sugar-free chewing gum? What is it sweetened with?

This was by far the most frequently asked question that I got asked. And YES! YES! YES! OH MY GUM! is sugar-free. OH MY GUM! is sweetened with 100% xylitol, a plant-based sweetener from the birch tree that is good for your teeth. If you tell your dentist that you are chewing on 100% xylitol sweetened chewing gum, they would be very happy. So yes, OH MY GUM! is sugar-free and also aspartame-free too.

4. How many pieces are in a packet?

Both our chic mint and cinnamon packets have 10 pieces of plant-based, plastic-free and super tasty chewing gum.

5. Is OH MY GUM! gluten-free?

Yes, absolutely OH MY GUM! is gluten-free.

6. Can you blow bubbles with it?

Yes, but they will be very small and not so photogenic. I am still trying to capture the perfect picture of me blowing a plant-based bubble for Instagram.

Spice it up with our award-winning insanely delicious cinnamon gum

7. How long does the flavour last?

We only use all natural super-tasty flavours (OH MY GUM! is a very proud winner of the 2021 Great Taste Awards). The flavours last for a good 30-45 minutes so the same piece of chewing gum is not going to last for hours. Natural flavours do not last as long as artificial flavours which are used in most mainstream chewing gum brands.

8. Where do you sell OH MY GUM!?

We ship worldwide on our e-store (OH MY GUM! is London-based) and you will find us in lots of amazing independent stores around the UK, Europe and the US. DM us or email us if you would like to know if we sell in a stockist near you.

9. What do you use instead of plastic in your chewing gum?

OH MY GUM! is made with natural biodegradable chicle, which is tree sap from the sapodilla tree in Mexico and what chewing gum was originally made with before the discovery that chewing gum could be made with plastic. My mission is to make chicle a globally recognised ingredient!

10. Isn’t all chewing gum vegan?

No, not all chewing gum is vegan. The majority of chewing gum brands are vegan but they are a some that contain animal derived-products like gelatine. You can be assured that OH MY GUM! is proudly vegan-friendly.

OH MY GUM! at the London Coffee Festival 2021

YOUR HOLIDAY PACKING LIST

These are the eco-friendly beauties we will be packing our holiday this year - holiday packing list sorted.

1. GREEN PEOPLE SUNSCREEN

Did you know that traditional sunscreen formulas contain toxic chemicals that pollute our oceans and seas and harm marine life? Fear not, Green People is here to the rescue offering fragrance-free, reef-safe and cruelty-free sunscreen that protects from UVA & UVB rays and comes in recyclable plant-based packaging. To make things even better, 20p of every sale goes towards the Marine Conservation Society. Basically, this sunscreen ticks EVERY box.

2. UPCIRCLE HEMP AND COTTON MAKEUP REMOVER PADS

Forget makeup wipes that make a mess of our planet, switch to Upcircle’s Hemp and Cotton makeup remover pads. You get 7 super smooth pads (one for each day of the week) made with 100% natural ingredients. They come in a mesh bag that you can wash them in. Au revoir single use disposable cotton pads and face wipes.

3. PARLA TOOTHPASTE TABLETS

I am obsessed with PARLA toothpaste tablets. They are eco-friendly (farewell single use plastic toothpaste tubes), come in refillable jars and they taste AMAZING! (super minty fresh with a lovely natural flavour) .It is not just better for the planet, it is better than the traditional toothpaste options out there too. I ran out of mine while I was on holiday and I won’t be making that mistake again. I am subscribed to their PARLA PRO tablets that you get delivered every 4 months. Highly highly recommend.

4. NUDDY SHAMPOO BARS

You know how you switch to plant-based plastic-free chewing gum like OH MY GUM! and you can never go back to traditional chewing gum after that? That’s how I also feel about shampoo bars. I LOVE THEM. They are so much more planet-friendly as you are eliminating single use plastic in your bathroom and I have also found one that is doing wonders for my wild hair thanks to Nuddy’s acai berry and peach shampoo bar. It is INCREDIBLE and will be on every holiday packing list going forward.

5. PAPER LONDON SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR

Sustainability can be cool, stylish and better than the traditional available options. Paper London’s swimwear is just that: beautiful, effective (protects against UV rays) and sustainable (made from ECONYL : 100% regenerated nylon fibre made from recycled fishing nets and ocean waste). You #OHMYGIRLS will be #PAPERLDNgirls. And they also plant a tree with every order.

6. JIMMY FAIRLY SUSTAINABLE SUNNIES

If OH MY GUM! made eyewear, it would be JIMMY FAIRLY. In fact, they have a super cool Audrey Hepburn style pair of sunglasses called The Cinnamon. They make incredible sunglasses made with bio acetate - a plant-based and biodegradable material and donate a pair of glasses for every purchase. LOVE!

7. OH MY GUM!

Chew on plant-based chicle, NOT plastic to help with the ear pressure on a flight

Surprise, surprise! We end every round up with OMG! but seriously chewing gum on the plane helps with the pressure on your ears so don’t chew on single use plastic and go for plant-based, plastic-free and biodegradable chicle in yummy mint and cinnamon.

PLASTIC-FREE SUSTAINABLE DENTAL CARE

After my instagram live last month with the amazing Dr Rhona - London’s most sought-after dentist and co-founder of the incredible PARLA toothpaste tablets, I have been keen to share a round-up of environmentally friendly and plastic-free dental products. I love how dental care is now is being seen as part of our beauty and wellness rituals thanks to beautifully designed and sustainable oral care brands. This makes looking after our teeth more fun and certainly inspires better habits. 

I also realised that this week marked the beginning of National Smile Month : a campaign run by the oral Health foundation in the UK from May 17th to June 17th to promote good oral health. So it was certainly perfect timing to share a post about eco-friendly dental products that protect people’s smiles without costing the Earth. 

Here is a round up of my favourite plastic-free and environmentally friendly products that are good for your teeth and good for the planet.  

1. OH MY GUM!

OH MY GUM! is good for your teeth because it is sweetened with 100% xylitol.

OH MY GUM! is not just tasty plastic-free chewing gum but it is also sugar-free chewing gum made with 100% plant-based ingredients including natural biodegradable chicle (sap from the sapodilla tree) and sweetened with 100% xylitol. Xylitol, a plant-based sweetener derived from the birch tree, is what makes OH MY GUM! good for your teeth. Dentists recommend sugar-free chewing gum that is sweetened with 100% xylitol. That’s why Dr Rhona has recently recommended OH MY GUM! In The Times. Another reason to love OH MY GUM!. 

Thank you to the lovely Dr Rhona for recommending OH MY GUM! in The Times #womensupportingwomen

2. PARLA TOOTHPASTE TABLETS

The  scary fact:  1.5 billion tubes of toothpaste go to landfill or into our oceans every year.  The simple eco-friendly solution:  PARLA toothpaste tablets with fluoride developed by award-winning London dentists. They come in refillable jars and are available on an adhoc or subscription basis in biodegradable packaging.  Parla Toothpaste tablets are not just an environmentally friendly and ethical alternative to mainstream toothpaste tubes, I actually find the after taste much nicer than regular toothpaste making this eco-switch one of my faves. I have tried the original and have ordered the latest Parla Pro after seeing it on Dragon’s Den last month. You can also include the new PARLA Moso bamboo toothbrush with your subscription. 

3. Truthbrush Electric Toothbrush Head

Beautiful design makes everything more exciting and I love the design of truthbrush. I am fan of almost anything in pastel pink so of course I adore their petal pink bamboo toothbrush. But I am really looking forward to getting my hands on their new electric toothbrush head, the first of its kind,   that is compatible with Sonicare electric toothbrushes so there is no need to buy a new base. Join their kickstarter campaign to be one of the first to get them. 

4. Brushd Dental Floss

Traditional dental floss is made with nylon which takes hundreds of years to biodegrade and is also coated with nasty chemicals. An easy eco-friendly alternative is the plastic-free corn-based dental floss by Brushd which is biodegradable,  coated with candelilla wax and comes in a glass jar. No need to use plastic dental floss again. 

SUSTAINABLE BAG ESSENTIALS

Phone, wallet, keys and OH MY GUM! : these are my ultimate bag essentials and I am hoping the latter will be for many of you too. 

I created OH MY GUM! as a chic and sustainable alternative to regular mainstream chewing gum that is made with plastic - tasty plant-based chewing gum that you would be proud to have in your bag and proud to offer if someone ever asked ‘do you have some gum?’. 

Along with OH MY GUM!, I wanted to share some of my favourite sustainable bag essentials so that you can step out in style this Earth Day and beyond. 

• Hair Clips and Claws by Tort

Tort make the most beautiful collection of hair accessories out of eco-resin material that are suitable for all hair types and outfits. They make gorgeous retro-style hair clips, barrettes and clasps. I just love them and I love the fact each clip is named after powerful women in the founder’s life.

• Hand sanitiser by The Good Mist

I love this gentle non-sticky hand sanitiser as  you can get a set of 2 : a hand sanitiser spray plus a perfect bag-friendly hand sanitiser with a hidden twist spray head and this can be refilled. I have tried The Floral one which smells incredible and I love that all their packaging is sustainably sourced, recyclable and beautifully designed.   

• Stojo Collapsible Coffee Cup

Match your bag essentials with OH MY GUM! in mint and the Stojo collapsible coffee cup in cashmere. You can also match OH MY GUM! in cinnamon with the Stojo collapsible coffee cup in carnation pink. So cute, sustainable and bag-friendly - what is not to love?

• ONE BALM - GREEN PEOPLE

An organic and cruelty-free multipurpose beauty balm with regenerating pomegranate and rosehip that comes in a lovely biodegradable pot - the first of its kind in the UK. Perfect for sustainably treating your hands and lips on the go. 

• Baggu Reusable Shopping Bags 

I always have a foldable reusable shopping bag in my bag in case I pop into a shop and buy more than I can carry. These Baggu shopping bags are my go-to: they are durable, come in lots of pretty prints and are sustainably sourced. LOVE!

LIHA OKUNNIWA

Such a pleasure catching up with the amazing Liha Okunniwa, co-founder of eco-luxe vegan beauty brand Liha Beauty and so thrilled to share her answers to the OH MY! blog questions.

• What are your bag essentials?

Rosewater, Goddess Rollerballs, Eyebrow gel, lipgloss, notepad and pen.

• What is your favourite holiday destination?

I usually love city breaks because I live in the country. Paris is a favourite for me because I can spend hours getting inspired browsing bookshops, pharmacies, fabric shops, perfumeries and eating as much as I can. I love how passionate the French are about artisanal products and how long their lunch breaks are!

I also love to Surf and want to try Senegal as its a lesser known spot, and I'm hoping it'll be a hidden gem.

@lihabeauty

• What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday? 

  Warm weather, naked yoga, reading a great book, a long walk in the woods/ rollerskating and a lovely takeaway. I've got dangerously used to my own company during lockdown and I'm dangerously close to recluse levels.
  

• What are you watching and/or reading at the moment? 

I'm re-reading The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler and The Penguin book of Historic Speeches.I usually have one fiction and one non fiction on the go at the same time. At the moment I'm fascinated by the idea of social change, crumbling ideals and how long these things take to come around from idea to completion.

Bad TV is my guilty pleasure and I love something light so I'm watching Call My Agent on Netflix as I can't get to Paris!

• What is your dream 3 course meal? 

At the moment anything I don't have to cook and can eat in an actual restaurant!

• What easy eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?

A bar of soap instead of shower gel and glass instead of plastic.

• OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon? 

Both!

• What should be our next flavour?

A version of Juicy Fruit :)

How to be an effortlessly stylish eco-queen

Who does not love a simple stylish swap that has a positive impact on the planet. When design meets sustainability, we are all for it. 

Swapping regular plastic-filled chewing gum for super tasty plant-based and plastic-free chewing gum is so simple and now so chic with OH MY GUM! in amazing all natural mint and cinnamon. OH MY GUM! is completely plastic-free as it is made with natural biodegradable chicle and 100% plant-based ingredients and our packaging is recyclable and designed to minimise waste. It is one small change that makes a big difference to our planet as regular plastic chewing is one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution.

Ditch the plastic. Swap to super tasty plant-based OH MY GUM!

OH MY GUM! is all about making stylish eco-friendly swaps that are better for us and the planet. So here is a round up of our favourite sustainable switches that are both super easy and stylish.

• HAY Reusable Water Bottles
  

If OH MY GUM! did reusable water bottles, it would be these beautiful HAY bottles in mint and pink. What an easy way to stylishly reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles. We are IN! 

• Sukk Straws

It is so easy to leave plastic straws behind us and make an easy-friendly swap to plastic-free straws.  Sukk make the prettiest straws in BPA-free silicone and stainless steel and they come in amazing vegan leather carry cases. SWAP DONE!

• Nuddy Shampoo Bars 

The best in sustainable haircare products: nuddy makes shampoo bars that deliver with sass. The queen of beauty journalism, Sali Huges, said the acai berry and peach shampoo bar was one of the best she tried and we could not agree more. Such an easy way to reduce plastic waste in our lives and have fab hair too. 

• PARLA toothpaste tablets 

Here is a scary fact: 1.5 billion tubes of toothpaste go to landfill or into the ocean each year. We can make the easy eco-friendly swap to toothpaste tablets, specifically the amazing PARLA toothpaste tablets. They are designed by London-based dentists and they tick all our boxes such as: plastic-free, zero waste, vegan and great design. We are sold - are you? 

• Baggu Shopping Bags

Baggu is our go-to for stylish reusable shopping bags. They come in a variety of pretty colours and prints. A sturdy eco-friendly bag that looks good and does good - what is not to love? 

For a more comprehensive list of stylish sustainable swaps, you can check out a great list put together by PARO store.

Alina Gromova-Jones

I am so pleased to have caught up with the lovely Alina Gromova-Jones: founder of the insanely delicious and super cool plant-based and plastic-free eatery KOJO in Hampstead. If you have not tried KOJO before, you absolutely must now!!

What are your bag essentials?

It depends on the size of my handbag, its recently been very small so I carry around house keys, biodegradable wet wipes, hand sanitiser, Glossier lip balm (no lipstick as it comes off on my mask), my U mask, OH MY GUM! In cinnamon and energy balls from KOJO.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Hong Kong! I love that you can go to the beach in the morning, go for a hike in the afternoon, and hit the city for the evening! It just keeps calling me back!

OH MY GUM! in cinnamon - one of Alina’s bag essentials

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday? 

I typically work on a Saturday but I love my job so much it never feels like work. On a Sunday, my husband and I enjoy walking into London, and we sometimes walk up to 20,000 steps! We are definitely enjoying walking in London when there aren’t as many people around at the moment, we keep our phones in our pockets and share ideas and stories from our week with each other about  Plus Sunday is pizza/pasta night!

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment? 

Watching: We really enjoy those moments when we can chill on the sofa and watch something on TV since we don’t get many moments like that. I love documentaries like Seaspiracy because I feel that I wouldn’t have been educated about this topic otherwise with my very full schedule. But we’ve loved watching Family Business on Netflix, it is French so we watched with subtitles, but it’s worth it! It’s so funny!

Reading: I recently finished reading The Male Brain, it has enlightened me about how to better communicate with the males in my team, it is true that men and women’s brains work differently and how we should respect these differences. Reading it showed me how to effectively get my point across and be heard when on the odd occasion, I am the only female in a meeting.

Alina is the founder of the amazing plant-based eatery KOJO in Hampstead, London

What is your dream 3 course meal? 

To start, I love having fresh zesty salads, I adore ripe juicy tomatoes. Then I’d say a bean patty plant-based burger, with lots of avocado, spicy harissa and crispy potato fries with plant-based mayo. For dessert, I would have vegan tiramisu. Mmm I’m feeling hungry, do you feel hungry?

What easy eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?

Nowadays its so easy to swap your everyday essentials, from metal straws, cotton bags and plastic-free chewing gum to non-toxic cleaning products and even biodegradable hairbrushes and phone cases!

OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon? 

I love chai lattes and golden milks, so cinnamon!

What should be our next flavour?

We use a lot of yuzu (from the citrus family) in our cooking at KOJO and I love its fresh flavour, so I would say yuzu! Or even lemongrass!

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CHEWING GUM

For those who recently took the OH MY GUM! quiz on Instagram, here is an explanation of the answers.

1. The most expensive gum ever: $14,000

   The most expensive chewing gum ever listed on eBay was $14,000. This is because it was chewed on by Britney Spears.

2. Chewing gum does not stay in your stomach for 7 years

   One of the most common myths about chewing gum is that it stays in your stomach for 7 years if you swallow it. This is not true - the chewing gum would move intact through your digestive system and your body would get rid of it in a few days.

3. Iran is the country that chews the most chewing gum

   Iran has the highest chewing gum consumption in the world. This is because packets of chewing gum tend to be given out when shopkeepers do not have enough change.

4. The world chewing gum record is 250 pieces

Most people guessed this correctly in our quiz. The current world record for the most chewing gum ever chewed at one time is 250 pieces - MAD!.

5. Regular chewing gum is made of plastic

The main ingredient in regular chewing gum is plastic : polyethylene - which is the same plastic used to manufacture tyres and glue - and this is disguised under the catch all term ‘gum base’. OH MY GUM! uses a natural biodegradable chicle as it is base - OH MY GUM! is 100% plastic-free guilt-free chewing gum.

6. There is a National Chewing Gum Day

And it is on September 30th. Mark your calendars :)

7. Mint is the most popular chewing gum flavour

But the bestseller on our site is The Perfect Ten in Mint and Cinnamon xx

Layla Al-Naif

So happy to have Layla Al-Naif, holistic nutritionist , yoga instructor and creator of Glowing Within nutrition plans on the blog. Thank you so much Layla for your answers.

What are your bag essentials?

Being a mother now I hardly ever carry a bag, but what I throw in the stroller or my diaper bag is a hand sanitiser (non toxic of course), lip balm, my credit card and snacks for my daughter.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

My go to holiday destination has to be Los Angeles.

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

My perfect weekend entails us getting to switch off a little and spend time with my husband and daughter, my weekends are a lot calmer than they used to be which I love!

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

I’m watching Your Honor which is quite intense but incredible, I’m reading Midnight Sun which is part of the twilight series and I’m hooked.

What is your dream 3 course meal?

My dream 3 course meal is anything from Japanese cuisine, specifically sushi related - it’s the only food I genuinely get excited to go and eat.

What easy eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?

An easy swap has to be in the beauty department, it’s SO easy to find non toxic beauty in make up and skin care nowadays there’s no reason not to be using them!

OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon?

My favourite flavour has to be Mint, although I alternate between the two!

Mint Vibes

What should be our next flavour?

I love a citrus flavour, I think OH MY GUM! would make it work.

WHY YOU NEED TO STOP CHEWING YOUR USUAL GUM NOW.

Mainly because you need to ditch the plastic.

I am not just talking about the plastic in the packaging but the actual chewing gum itself. The key ingredient in regular chewing gum is polyethylene: a plastic used in the manufacture of tyres, adhesives, plastic bottles and plastic toys.

Regular chewing gum is made of the same plastic used to make plastic bottles

You won’t find plastic on the ingredients list in regular chewing gum because it is hidden under the term ‘gum base’. That’s one of the reasons awareness around the plastic content in regular chewing gum is so low and why have been chewing on plastic unknowingly for years. 

Plastic is the reason chewing gum gets stuck on our streets for hundreds of years - the plastic does not break down.

Our recent instagram poll showed that 47% of OH MY GUM!’s followers had no idea that mainstream chewing gum is made with plastic so it is clear we have a long way to go in raising awareness around hidden plastics.

OH MY GUM! is plastic-free and plant-based chewing gum made with chicle

If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to your usual chewing gum, make the sustainable switch to plant-based plastic-free chewing gum and chew on chicle.

Chicle is sap from the sapodilla tree in Mexico and don’t worry - no trees are cut down during the extraction process. Chicle is biodegradable and that’s why we use chicle as our base in OH MY GUM!.

Chicle is actually what chewing gum was originally made of before the discovery that chewing gum could be made cheaply with plastic. OH MY GUM! is taking chewing gum back to its plant-based roots (in style!) and that’s one of the reasons our tagline is ‘gum as it should be’.

OH MY GUM! in natural mint and cinnamon made with chicle

Now that you are in the know, please help to spread the word around the hidden plastic in regular chewing gum. Chew on chicle - it is the easiest eco-friendly swap ever xx

Camille Vidal

So pleased to feature the amazing Camille Vidal on the blog. Camille is the creator of incredible Mindful Cocktails™ and Founder of La Maison Wellness a platform dedicated to expand the conversation around Mindful Drinking and inspire people to live like Healthy Hedonists.

What are your bag essentials?

Not much these days as we don’t go anywhere really and rarely have a bag but normally:

Essential oils

Reusable water bottle

Lip balm & a lipstick

Treats for me puppy, treat for myself

My computer and my phone

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Anywhere sunny! Im originally from the south of France, I lived on an island in French Polynesia as a kid, I need sunshine in my life!

- What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

Waking up making myself a cup of tea, listening to music and movement some gentle yoga, going for a walk with my dog, eating some delicious food and hopefully soon sharing a Mindful Cocktail or two with some friends

- What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

Im obsessed with Ru Paul Drag Race, this has been my lockdown saviour and made me both laugh and cry of joy.

Reading Im reading a great French book at the moment about a guy in his late twenties who’s diagnose with severe early Alzheimer and only has a couple of years to live so decide to leave and go travel. Its beautiful.

- What is your dream 3 course meal?

That’s a tough one I love food so much I don’t know!
I always said if I could I would do breakfast in Paris, Lunch in Tokyo, dinner in Italy and the breakfast after in India.

Not really answering your question but here you go!

- What easy eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?

Straws! Plastic straws shouldn’t even be produce anymore drink with your mouth or get yourself a glass or portable metal straws

Reusable water bottle and tea / coffee cup my favourite is Hunu as you can retract it, its brilliant!

- OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon?

Mmmm both! Not at the same time though!

- What should be our next flavour?

Eucalyptus or grapefruit!

A delicious alcohol-free cocktail - recipe here xx

Ilona Lattion

@veganiina

Thank you so much to Ilona Lattion, @veganiina - iceskating queen and creator of DELICIOUS vegan recipes - for her lovely answers <3

What are your bag essentials?

Snacks, water bottle, lip balm, a phone charger, wallet, chewing gum, bandages (i‘m really clumsy)

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Finland🇫🇮 to visit my family!

What is your Perfect Saturday/Sunday?

Staying home, baking/cooking and watching Netflix

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

I am watching Pretty Little Liars and reading for my exams!

What is your dream three course?

Edamame and miso soup, avocado sushi, vegan cinnamon roll

What easy eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?

Reusable bags for shopping, also reusable veggie bags and reusable water bottle

OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon?

MINT!

What should be our next flavour?

I would say liquorice (but not sure you would have a big market for that) so probably a fruity flavor like strawberry!

Nourah Alamro

I had the pleasure of catching up with Nourah Alamro, owner of @sageveganhealth, who helps to inspire so many of us with her delicious, easy and simple vegan recipes. Perfect timing if you are trying out Veganuary this year!!

What are your bag essentials? 

My lipstick and hairpin

What is your favourite holiday destination?  

Bali

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?  

Having a yummy breakfast, maybe vegan pancakes, then going out to the shops or just a drive to enjoy the sun and nice music in the car and cuddle with the doggy

If you are trying Veganuary this, look no further than @sageveganhealth for inspiration

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment? 

I usually watch Turkish series - yes I am in love with love stores <3

What is your dream three course meal? 

I am a dessert kinda person so would go for cookies, chocolate fondant and ice cream. All vegan of course!

What eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?  

Reusable shopping bags - honestly it’s easier than what people think.

OH MY GUM! chewing gum in mint or cinnamon? 

OH MY GUM! in cinnamon

What should be our next flavour?

Something with citrus

Gemma Louise Deeks

So pleased to have caught up with the wonderful London-based freelance Fashion Editor and stylist Gemma Louise Deeks. Thank you Gemma for sharing your lovely answers.  

What are your bag essentials? 

My B&O headphones, I always listen to music when going for walks, on the tube or running errands! Dr Lipp balm for soft lips, hand sanitiser (obvs) and some sort of vegan snack. 

What is your favourite holiday destination?  

Bali , it is such a dream and has everything you could want. 

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?  

At the moment, it is a lie in, matcha in bed, late breakfast of avocado on toast and then a good movie on the sofa! It is too cold to go outside!

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment? 

The Serpent - binged it in 2 days. 

What is your dream three course meal? 

Likely something Italian! A bruschetta, followed by vegan pizza and pasta (yep, both!) and a deliciously dairy-free cheesecake.

What eco-friendly swap do you highly recommend?  

My collapsible reusable coffee cup for my matchas, which I love. I also use bamboo straws at home for my smoothies and a moon cup instead of other sanitary products. And a reusable shopping bag - always! 

OH MY GUM! chewing gum in mint or cinnamon? 

OH MY GUM! in mint. 

Veganuary Treats - OH MY!

If you are trying out veganuary this year and need some inspiration for tasty vegan goodies - here are some of our vegan faves (along with OH MY GUM! which is vegan-friendly and biodegradable as it is made with natural chicle and plant-based ingredients unlike regular chewing gum).  

• Vegan Dark Chocolate from Coco Chocolatier

Image: Coco Chocolatier

Now here is some January Joy:  yummy vegan dark chocolate with a pinch of sea salt made on the Isle of Skye in packaging by independent artists. YES PLEASE! 

• Vegan Fudge from Fudge Kitchen

Build your own box of vegan fudge heaven with 5 delicious options: salted dark chocolate, chocolate and orange, hazelnut, peanut butter and chocolate and icy coconut. So so YUM! 

• Vegan Hot Chocolate from Knoops

Exquisite in taste and design - mix with your favourite mylk (we love oatly barista) and it is just the dream. 

• Vegan Marshmallows from the Marshmallowist

Image: The Marshmallowist

Never have we ever seen or tasted divine marshmallows like these. They have a wonderful vegan option: Vegan Vanilla Bean Gourmet Marshmallows 

• Vegan recipes by Gemma Louise Deeks

These are the simple and delicious recipes that you need in your life to make savoury and sweet vegan treats. Now that’s veganuary made easier! Thank you Gemma x

Zita D'Hauteville

@zitadhauteville in Tatler

OMG! So pleased to have the ultimate Parisian It girl - Zita D’Hauteville on the blog today. Zita is a high flyer at Google, a model, a first class UCL graduate and as if that wasn’t enough, she is the daughter of Count and Countess d’Hauteville (one of Paris’ oldest and most notable families). So yeah - OMG!

What are your bag essentials?

My mask, OH MY GUM!, my little cardholder, a tiny brush, hair clip, Dior lip gloss, my keys and hand sanitiser and of course my phone and charger.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

I would say Italy because they are so many incredible cities to visit in just one country and the pasta as well! So definitely Italy.

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

My perfect Sunday is going out with my friend or boyfriend to have some brunch in a food market (I love food markets!), ideally some gyozas and little raclette.

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

I am currently watching The Queen’s Gambit - as I am sure most people are. I played a lot of chess as a child so it is so nice to discover the whole atmosphere that chess professionals live in and discovering all the different moves - fascinating. Love the story.

What is your dream three course meal?

My ideal three course meal would be quite strange as it is a mixture of different cuisines. So first as a starter I would love to have vegetarian gyozas then for my main course I would have pasta al limone which is my favourite ever recipe. I am not a sugary person so for dessert I would probably go for another starter like an insalata tricolore with tomatoes, avocado and burrata

OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon?

I love OH MY GUM! in mint but I love the cinnamon even more.

What should be our next flavour?

May be something like berries or the next OH MY GUM! could also have effects on the body like to stay calm or help with sleep or give a boost.

Dania Sawedeg

So pleased to have the jewellery and style queen, Dania Sawadeg, on the OH MY! Blog. Dania is the co-founder of the super cool jewellery brand, Kamushki Jewellery, and has been featured on Harper Bazaar’s best dressed list. Need I say more??

What are your bag essentials?

Dr. Bronner Lavender hygiene spray. My lipstick - I never leave the house without it - it is MAC - Russian Red.

Airpods. My perfume from Vilhem - Do Not Disturb - I love this brand and they have small sized bottles which fit in bags. Make-up remover wipes.

Dania and her sister Mariam are the creative minds behind @kamushkijewellery

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Has to be in Italy so anywhere Como is at the top.

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

Cooking with friends on a Saturday night and I love walking so a Sunday afternoon stroll is a must

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

I just started a new show called The Undoing. It’s AMAZING! and I just ordered a book called ‘Secrets of Divine Love’ so waiting for that…

Dania and Mariam on Harper Bazaar Arabia’s Best Dressed List

What is your dream three course meal?

I love sushi so any Omakase…

What easy eco-friendly swap do you recommend?

An eco-friendly water container that you can take everywhere

OH MY GUM! in mint or cinnamon?

I love both but I am definitely a cinnamon girl

What should be our next flavour?

I love Mastic - reminds me of what my grandmother used to give me in Libya.